COURT SUMMONS OFFICIALS OVER REHABILITATION OF VAN GUJJARS

DEHRADUN: Unsatisfied with the response of the state government on the issues related to rehabilitation of Van Gujjars in the state, the Uttarakhand high court has issued summons to the principal chief conservator of forests (PCCF), wildlife, principal secretary of the social welfare department and district magistrates of seven districts to remain personally present in the court on November 24.

The 7 districts are US Nagar, Nainital, Dehradun, Haridwar, Tehri, Pauri and Uttarkashi.

The directions were issued by a division bench of chief justice RS Chauhan and Justice Alok Kumar Verma on Wednesday while hearing a PIL filed by Delhi-based NGO Think Act Rise Foundation through its secretary Arjun Kasana in 2019. The PIL has highlighted the plight of the Van Gujjars who continue to occupy certain areas of the forests in the state. The HC has also clubbed many other petitions related to Van Gujjars in this PIL.

Kasana, who appeared in person, said the PIL seeks declaring Van Gujjars as beneficiaries under the Forest Rights Act, declaring forest land occupied by them as revenue villages, providing land rights to them under the Act and quashing of petty cases against them. “There are around 10,000 Van Gujjars living in the state who are facing problems. The state government committee had to look into their issues and come up with recommendations and apprise the HC what it has done so far. The HC was not happy with the report of the state government and has issued summons to officers concerned and DMs of seven districts to remain present in the court on Nov 24,” he said.